Nursery question

[albinobrows]

Hi

I was made redundant around 3 months ago, the wee one had to come out of nursery as I couldn't pay her fees with not having a job.

She will be 3 at the end of March and Im wondering if she will be offered a council nursery place?

I have applied for 3 different ones I'm just wondering if the wait is long after the child has turned 3?

Thank you

I think funding starts the term after the child turns 3 - so I think you would be entitled to a funded place from August (but a good thing to get on waiting lists now anyway, as in certain areas nurseries are seriously oversubscribed). Also, remember it doesn't have to be an actual council nursery - there are lots of "partner provider" nurseries where you can receive your funded hours too.

It depends on your council, my little girl turns 3 in March and when we lived in Dundee she wasn't eligible for a funded place until August. We moved to Angus and she's actually eligible from the summer term (after Easter hols).
It's worth checking your local council website, search for early years/early learning and childcare/something like that and it should state the eligible dates and how to apply for spaces.

You don't just get offered - you need to apply. Lots of private nurseries and childminders also offer funded spaces, not just council nurseries. But if she is eligible from the summer term just be mindful they may not have space to accommodate her full entitlement until august - my wee girl is only getting one full day until the pre-schoolers leave!

From what I understand you get funding for next term after they turn 3 (we live in Edinburgh). So I would think you should get it after Easter holidays. So I would put in an application form in asap in case places are short and you have to wait.

Mygov.scot says children born after 1st of March won't be entitles to a spot till August. Though if PP had a diff experience in a particular council area then I guess it's always worth trying! Mygov link specifying the cut-off dates

Good grief, my typing... That was supposed to say "entitled" and "different"! Wish MN had an edit function sometimes!

That's interesting @onestarrynight . I was told for both of mine that they'd get funding the term after they turn 3 from our nursery. But maybe they were just simplifying the rules and both were winter babies.

Yes, we were told exactly the same @Callisto1 - I think it's quite a misleading phrase for spring-born children tbh, and anecdotally quite a few parents have got an unpleasant surprise when they discover they have to wait several more months than they'd bargained for before getting the funding.

Yes, definitely not a good surprise to be told you have to wait till August when you banked on April!

In my area (NL) if their birthday is between mid August and 28th February they can start the day after their 3rd birthday. If its between 1st March and mid August then they start in the August

In Edinburgh March to August start in the August term. Sept to Dec start in January and Jan/Feb is April.

I know Midlothian is the day after their third birthday.

It will also depend on if nursery has space. We’ve had quite a few parents be amazed that we are full as we only have 20 places. But the nursery I used to work at has 60 places.